Category: Sorrow

Amidst my troubles

Ruth Kirk

I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

I love you, God, amidst my troubles;
Trust in you amidst my pain;

Love you, God, amidst my struggles,
Giving thanks in loss and gain.

I love you, God: amidst my sorrows
Can I share your perfect peace?

Can I know your gentle presence?
Yes! Your mercies never cease!

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease (Lamentations 3:22; NLT).

References

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NIV).

 

What’s in store?

Ruth Kirk

No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future (Ecclesiastes 10:14; NLT).

What does our God
Have in store for us all?
Will it be happy,
Or sad?

Life is striving and gain;
Life is sickness and pain –
God sends all! God is great!
God is good!

What does our God
Have in store for us all?
Will it be blissful,
Or bad?

Life is triumph and loss;
Life is bearing our cross –
God sends all! God is kind!
God is love!

Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NIV). 

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

References

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).

God is great! (Psalm 70:4; NLT).

Only God is truly good (Luke 18:19; NLT).

How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

Every person has been given a great deal of work to do. A heavy burden lies on all of us from the day of our birth until the day we go back to the earth, the mother of us all (Ben Sira 40:1; GNTA).

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again (Psalm 71:20; NLT).

Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:27; NLJV).

 

Wordless sharing

Ruth Kirk

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

In silence,
Lift your hands to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

In stillness,
Lift your mind to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

In gladness,
Lift your heart to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

In darkness,
Lift your soul to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:27-8; AMP).

References

Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the LORD (Psalm 134:2; NLT).

Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary (Psalm 28:2; NLT).

 

God is an ocean

Ruth Kirk

During contemplation, we can lose ourselves in God, no matter how we are:

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths (Psalm 36:6; NLT).

He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed (Matthew 26:37; NKJV).

God is an ocean of sorrow;
An ocean of bliss.

God is an ocean of darkness;
An ocean of light.

God is an ocean of healing;
An ocean of good.

God is an ocean of oneness –
An ocean of love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

 

Here and now

Ruth Kirk

Today’s blog is extra to my usual daily schedule. It is dedicated to all readers who are really struggling with life at present, as I am myself. This is why my posting times have been rather erratic recently. Whatever happens, I will do my very best to keep posting for you every single day. So, let’s just cling to God in the here and now of each storm. NB: I apologise for the number of references, but they are all so precious to me that I couldn’t bear to leave any of them out. I continue to pray for you all. With love from Ruth xxx

Cling tightly to the LORD your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).

However good or bad things are,
Remember: God is with you, now.

For all that happens comes from God,
Who loves you deeply, here and now.

Accept the joys and griefs life brings:
Take refuge in our God, right now.

Love God, love others and yourself,
Just where you are, and in the now.

The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these (Mark 12:29-31; NLT).

References

My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Cling to your faith in Christ (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).

Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’S faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).

Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen (Romans 11:36; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

Whatever happens to you, accept it (Sirach 2:4; NJB).

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV).

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).

I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10; NLT).

Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

 

No matter what happens

Ruth Kirk

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

No matter what happens,
You’re here, Lord, within me.
No matter what happens,
I walk by your side.

No matter what happens,
You share in my anguish.
No matter what happens,
I need you, my Guide.

No matter what happens,
You love me forever.
No matter what happens,
I love you, Lord, too.

No matter what happens,
We face it together.
No matter what happens,
We always get through.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

 

Peace

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9; NIV).

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT).

I pray for the end
Of hate and fear;

I pray for the end
Of pain and grief;

I pray for the end
Of greed and war –

So peace will reign
For evermore.

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14; NIV).

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21:4; NLT).

References

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea (Isaiah 48:18; NLT).

The Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17; NLT).

 

My Maker

Ruth Kirk

Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before YHWH, our Maker (Psalm 95:6; TIB).

You’re the Maker
Of my body;
You’re the Cradle
Of my mind;

You’re the Essence
Of my spirit;
You’re the Lover
Of my heart;

You’re the Shaper
Of my lifespan;
You’re the Wellspring
Of my soul;

You’re the Giver
Of my being –
You’re the God
Who makes me whole!

He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

 

Pray in silence

Ruth Kirk

There are two versions of today’s blog. The first is for when we desperately need to pray for ourselves, yet find it impossible to pray at all. This is a very common problem, and can be terribly distressing.

The second version is for when we feel desperate about the state of our world, yet are completely overwhelmed by the scale of suffering we and others cause for those less powerful than ourselves.

Version 1

Pray about everything. Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Pray in silence; pray in stillness;
Pray in darkness; pray alone.

Ask the Holy Ghost to help you –
God will hear each sigh and groan.

Even if you cannot pray at all,
S/He knows you – mind, heart, soul,

And will pray on your behalf,
By asking God to make you whole.

Heal me, Lord (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

Version 2

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT). 

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Pray in silence; pray in stillness;
Pray in darkness; pray alone.

Ask the Holy Ghost to help you –
God will hear each sigh and groan.

Even if you cannot pray at all,
S/He knows you – mind, heart, soul –

S/He will pray on your behalf,
For all the world to be made whole.

He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us (Hosea 6:1; NIV). 

Reference

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose (Romans 8:26-8; AMP).